Iran put on a show of force to threaten the US — but it was unconvincing at best

Iran on Friday carried out a military drill aimed at showing the US how it could shut down oil shipping in the Persian Gulf after fresh US sanctions it in November, but the display was underwhelming at best.

The US will slap Iran with sanctions on its oil exports on November 4, a date that marks six months since the US’s withdrawal from the Iran deal.

Iran has threatened to block other country’s oil shipments if its own shipments get blocked, and to use its military to do so.

Iran doesn’t really stand a chance of achieving that and has already been hurt by sanctions.

Iran carried out a military drill Friday aimed at showing the US how it could shut down oil shipping in the Persian Gulf as more US sanctions loom in November, but the display was underwhelming at best.

The US will slap Iran with sanctions on its oil exports on November 4, a date that marks six months since the US’s withdrawal from the Iran deal. Iran essentially responded by saying that if its oil exports are blocked, it will take military measures to block oil exports from other countries, including US allies.

“If the enemies and arrogant powers have an eye on the borders and land of Islamic Iran they will receive a pounding reply in the fraction of a second,” Iranian media quoted Colonel Yousef Safipour as saying of the drills.

On Saturday, Iran will stage a large military drill with up to 600 navy vessels, its state media said. This number likely includes Iran’s fast attack craft, or military speedboats that have harassed US ships in the past.